HURRICANE MILTON WEATHER ALERT – MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2024

Bernhard Team,

As you are likely aware, our teammates in Florida are bracing for yet another hurricane set to make landfall this week along Florida’s west coast. Some of these areas are still recovering from Hurricane Helene. If you live elsewhere, please let our colleagues who call Florida home know that they are in our thoughts and that we are here to support them on a personal level and in our efforts to maintain business continuity.

The NHC provided the following key messages in its latest advisory issued at 4 p.m. CST today: 

• Hurricane Milton has intensified rapidly to a powerful Category 5 storm. The storm is making its way east toward Florida and is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 storm late Wednesday on the state’s Gulf Coast. 
• As Florida continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, as many as 15 million people are under flood watches and 11 million are at risk for tropical tornadoes tomorrow and Wednesday. A state of emergency was declared for 51 Florida counties, including all counties in the Tampa Bay area. Mandatory evacuations are underway along areas of the state’s west coast and voluntary evacuations are expected.
• A large area of life-threatening storm surge will occur along parts of Florida’s west coast on Wednesday. Potentially devastating hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of Florida’s west coast beginning tomorrow night and early Wednesday. Life-threatening hurricane-force winds, especially in gusts, are expected to spread inland across a portion of the entire Florida Peninsula. Hurricane and Storm Surge Warnings have been issued. Even if Hurricane Milton weakens prior to landfall, it will not lessen the coastal storm surge threat, which potentially could be historical and catastrophic. 
• Areas of heavy rainfall are already starting to impact portions of Florida today, with heavy rainfall directly related to the system expected later tomorrow through Wednesday night. This rainfall is expected to produce major flash, urban and river flooding. A Flood Watch is in effect for the entire Tampa Bay area, most of Central Florida and all of South Florida.
• Residents should have their hurricane plan in place, make final preparations now, and follow all guidance from local officials. Hurricane-force winds currently extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles.

Thank you to all of our employees responsible for job site operations and business continuity in Florida for being operationally ready, taking the necessary steps to prepare project sites for Milton’s impacts and ensuring the safety of our sites and crews. Given Milton is expected to produce heavy rainfall, please also be mindful of Bernhard’s fleet and ensure trucks are parked in a safe, secure area.

All job sites in the storm’s path will be closed starting at noon tomorrow through Wednesday and Thursday. Beginning Friday, essential personnel from our Operations & Safety teams in Florida will commence jobsite safety inspections to evaluate project sites and determine if and when it is safe to resume regular onsite operations. We ask that you remain in close contact with your supervisor.

For our office-based employees in Florida, please stay in close contact with your supervisor as well and make preparations to work from home for the remainder of this week, if possible. Our Tampa Bay and Orlando offices will close at noon tomorrow, but we realize some folks may live in areas prone to flooding, or have childcare needs due to school/daycare closures. Put your family first, use your discretion and do what is needed to prepare and take care of your loved ones. Once the storm has passed and it is safe to assess conditions surrounding our Tampa and Orlando offices, we will communicate updates regarding office operations. Following tomorrow’s noon office closures, please do not to return to the office until we have communicated that it is safe to do so.

We ask that everyone exercise caution and remain in contact with your immediate supervisor. Any changes to our operating schedule will be communicated via email, text, and updated here.

Please stay in touch and know that your teammates are ready to support you! May you and those you hold close to heart stay safe.